Duo aiming to make it to the O2

AN ACOUSTIC duo from Redditch is one step closer to stardom after reaching the area finals of a national competition.

Hayley Bocking and Conor Rabone, both 16 and studying at St Augustine's Catholic High School, will perform in Bedford on Sunday, May 13, after impressing judges at the regional final showcase of this year's Live and Unsigned competition.

If successful the pair - who perform covers of artists including Birdy, Snow Patrol and Katy Perry as well as original songs - will perform at the O2 arena in London with the chance of the £10,000 cash prize as well as a festival tour.

Headless Cross resident Hayley said: "Performing on the stage was one of the best feelings ever, we finally got our message across of what we want to do. When our name was called out we literally could not believe it and were so happy.

"We hope to make it through to the O2 as that would be the best experience of our lives, but even if we do not get through we have been so lucky to get this far and have had so much fun. We will be able to take this experience everywhere with us and it has helped us become a strong acoustic band together."